Palm Springs sets Guinness world record as over 1,000 people transform into Marilyn Monroe
Centennial celebration turns the California city into a living tribute to Hollywood’s timeless icon, drawing fans dressed in her most legendary looks.
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The city of Palm Springs, USA, was transformed into an open-air theater to recreate the image of the late star Marilyn Monroe, with more than a thousand people gathering in outfits and looks inspired by the Hollywood icon, setting a new Guinness World Record, coinciding with the centennial anniversary of her birth.
A record in Marilyn Monroe’s favorite city
A total of 1,037 people participated in the gathering held beneath the giant “Forever Marilyn” statue in the city center, surpassing the previous record of just 254 participants. This event is considered the largest of its kind for Marilyn Monroe lookalikes, in a city long associated with the legacy of the late star.
In Palm Springs, which served as a retreat for Marilyn Monroe away from the bustle of Hollywood, she is still considered part of the city’s cultural identity, especially as her connection to it dates back to the early years of her career.
On Marilyn Monroe’s centennial… white dresses and blonde hair
Participants arrived in looks evoking Marilyn Monroe’s most iconic images, from white dresses to blonde wigs and red lipstick, while many carried bags, jewelry, and accessories featuring her image.
The Palm Springs Pride organization, which organized the celebration, provided wigs and dresses for participants as part of an event that extended across different parts of the city.
Despite the unified style, it was clear that each participant carried their own version of Marilyn. Some revived her playful and glamorous persona, while others focused on her more human and fragile side, reflecting her enduring cultural presence more than six decades after her passing.
What is Marilyn Monroe’s permanent retreat?
Maria Prior, a city resident who carried a Marilyn Monroe-themed purse she found earlier in a lost-and-found box, said: “This place was always her retreat.”
A hundred years after her birth, Marilyn Monroe continues to bring fans together worldwide, confirming that her presence has transcended cinema to become part of collective memory and modern American culture.